Ramallah – Al Hayat Economic
The Coalition of Consumer Protection Organizations in Palestine concluded "Menna Wa Elna" (From Us To Us) Initiative whose events were launched last month with the support of the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy (NBC) and Al-Tayf Dairy Products and Food Company, an affiliate of the Modern Dairy Plant Company, and participation of Siniora Food Industries Company and Al-Arz Factory.
During the campaign which aimed at supporting the Palestinian products and raising the level of consumer awareness of their rights and the mechanism of defending those rights, eighteen schools were visited in the governorates of Ramallah, Qalqilia, Qabatiya, Tulkarem and Bethlehem.
Furthermore, the campaign included organizing open gatherings of more than 1,900 male and female students in a number of schools, to raise the awareness of students and keeping them updated about the quality of local products and their conformity with the Palestinian standards and International Quality Standards, as well as keeping them informed of the consumer rights and mechanism for defending such rights as well as the role of Consumer Protection Organizations in ensuring that the consumer's voice is reached and in following up complaints and collective issues that affect customers.
Mr.Salah Haniyeh, Head of the Palestinian Society for Consumer Protection and General Coordinator of Consumer Protection Societies Coalition, said: "During Mena Wa Elena (From Us and To Us) Initiative, we visited schools and met with the students to show them the goals of the Initiative". He added that the students agree on the necessity of supporting the Palestinian products. They also offered suggestions, ideas and visions on how to develop the products and how to protect consumer's rights, not only in the food sectors but also in the various sectors.
Mr. Haniyeh praised the excellent efforts of the Education Directorates in the different Governorates and the role of school health officials and their interaction with the Initiative, which clearly has contributed to the success of the events. He further clarified that the schools have complied with the standards set by the Ministry of Education through the General Directorate of School Health. The standards include providing healthy food in school canteens, the majority of which have become qualified by 93% and included women projects.
Mr. Haniyeh stressed the importance of cooperation between the Palestinian Industrial Companies for the success of the Initiative. He also valued the support and sponsorship of the National Beverage Company, Al-Tayf Dairy Products, Al-Arz Factory and Siniora Food Industries Company.
On his part, Mr. Imad al-Hindi, General Manager of the National Beverage Company Coca-Cola/Cappy, valued the role of those working on From Us to Us initiative, confirming that the Company takes pride in contributing to the sponsorship of such campaigns and initiatives that aim at protecting the national product in local markets.
He also appreciated NBC and Al-Tayf’s endeavor to provide the best food products that meet the Palestinian consumer’s taste, and conform to the international quality standards.
He added that, "Out of NBC belief in the need to provide high-quality options, the NBC worked on launching Al-Tayf Dairy and Food Products Company in Tulkarem at the beginning of this year." Al-Tayf obtained an exclusive franchise from the French company, Candia, the first at the European level in terms of the production of dairy and cheese products. This was in response to the increasing demand in the local market for diversity of milk and dairy products, which will be prepared by Palestinian hands to Palestinian consumers and with international quality.
He thanked the Ministry of Education and all its various departments, and the Consumer Protection Coalition for exerting excellent efforts with school students, and providing them with knowledge in order to raise their awareness. The student segment and the various age groups are the pillars of the society, who are capable of changing the community behavior.
It is scheduled for the initiative to lasted throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan and summer, in order to continue raising the public awareness in the markets about the need to purchase high- quality Palestinian product that match the requirements, in addition to protecting the consumers from expired and decayed food, and ensuring publicity of prices and prevent price manipulation.
